It was around Christmas in 2008 that I expressed the intention to write my first book, Spirit in Finance. It is my first plea for love as legal tender. I had just moved from a nice, bright and sunny house to a detached bungalow with views of perhaps the most beautiful fortified town of Netherlands. The birth of my son, Edwin, in May of that year gave me an inner strength that I had never experienced so strongly before. After six more or less involuntary abortions and three miscarriages, Edwin as number ten was a godsend. I dreamed of expanding my company from sole trader into a powerful management consulting firm with a team of five to ten employees; and guiding people, companies and institutions into the transition toward a new form of enterprise, arising from a pure heart. Less than a week after I started writing, my bank account was blocked. ‘Insufficient funds’. I broke into a sweat when I noticed that little message on the screen of the pin machine at the supermarket. I was embarrassed and looked at the line of people behind me. Everyone seemed in a hurry to have the last shopping done before Christmas. I felt guilty that I kept the people waiting in the cue. I felt fear creeping through my entire body. ‘You are guilty’, spoke my mind, never hesitant to give me advice and comments. Meanwhile, I wondered if the girl behind the cash register could see that I had no money. Apparently not, because she asked me if I had keyed in the wrong PIN code. Or did she not want to confront me with my problem out of respect and courtesy?

I gathered all my courage together and apologized for the inconvenience. ‘May I leave all my groceries here and, in the meantime, get another credit card at home to pay later?’ It was agreed, and I drove home in a hurry. In panic, I asked my wife for her credit card and succeeded in saving myself from this situation in a very short time. This kind of event continued to repeat itself for several years. The experiences were getting less innocent. At one point I chickened out by not even opening the mail anymore. Everything that looked like mail involving finances was thrown unopened in a desk drawer. The problems piled on.

Meanwhile my dear father passed away. I missed him intensely. During the week of his death, we got at least three messages from heaven. During the last farewell of my father, my brother and I told our family, friends and other acquaintances about this. ‘We have good news, dear people, it is well with dad.’ We stood together in the hall of the crematorium
and shared this.

My father, who had written the preface for Spirit in Finance, had wanted to experience the publication of the book. A week and a half
later he left his body. I will never forget the smile on his face. I also want to die like this. With a smile. Thankful for everything and everyone around me. He chose to go alone. We had already discussed this years before. ‘Dad, would you like to pass away alone or would you find it more comfortable if anyone would be there?’ He wanted to experience his last moment by himself. ‘Otherwise I will find it too hard to go. It’s so difficult to let go of you. I love you so much as well as your mother. You
are the last to which I am still attached on Earth. That is why I prefer to be alone at the end. To be able to go in freedom.’ And so it came to pass.

Just before that I had been next to him for a while on his deathbed. I loved my father. And I still do. Before me, he had been with my mother
and brother in the same way. I then went into another room to sleep. My father turned around. He died less than half an hour later. For years we have had the time to say goodbye. What a gift to be able to grieve with each other in advance. His passing therefore was okay. It felt as a huge relief even to see my father no longer suffering physically.

In the morning a dear friend called. Clairsentient as ever, he called to let me know how he had felt from a distance that my father had left the Earth. ‘I could not fail to call you. It might be a little crazy to call you so quick, but I can see your dad having plenty of joy. He is so happy that he can move freely again. His death is celebrated as a birth on the other side. Your father has been welcomed with so much love. There are plenty of cakes going round. I really had to share this image with you. You don’t mind that I am so open telling you this?!’
A day later my brother and I walked in at the local florist near my mother. We gave the news about the death of my father and asked him if he wanted to take care of the flower arrangements for the funeral. ‘Just walk with me to the back,’ spoke the florist. ‘It is well with your father. I can see him walking, he is so happy to be able to walk again. He has found immediately the path to the light. It’s so nice where your father is. As above, so below, isn’t that your wish also, Ivo?!’

A day before the funeral I was interviewed about Spirit in Finance by an American radio station over the phone. I told about the passing of my father. The interviewer also appeared to be clairsentient. Totally unexpected, it was the third confirmation as she told me how she saw my father cheerfully dancing the polka. ‘There is plenty of celebration up there. Your ancestors are so happy to see your father, and vice versa. It is a joyful occasion. Just pay attention when tomorrow you say goodbye to your father, he will be at the back of the hall at the left, dancing.’

The publication of Spirit in Finance in November 2009 was the beginning of considerable turbulence in my life. I missed the sense of basic trust from my father. He was no saint though he could sincerely trust in life. Instead of hating his cancer, which was the case when it started, he blessed his cancer cells. He went on to love them. I had not been able to do that with the problems in my life. On the contrary. I even seriously considered giving up on myself at some point. A financial crisis in my life, bailiffs and bankers, towering debt, shame, fear and frustration were just some elements which contributed to the development of suicidal feelings in me.

Spirit in Finance had only just appeared, and I started to feel down in the dumps. ‘Just be careful what you wish for’, my mind was telling me. ‘You have asked for it yourself. Or don’t you believe in your own beautiful words? Was your book just too naive? Just be honest!’

My wife had noted during a Conference that each speaker longed for the practical fulfilment of the message he or she shared with the people in the room. It seemed true for me as well. I have written about money, love and forgiveness. I have written about the renewal of the economy towards well-being and happiness, about a society of love. The ink was
not dry and already I wanted to experience the truth of my own book: unconditional love, no judgments, waking up as the one you truly are in
essence. It all sounds great. There are few books on these topics that I haven’t read. But now I needed to put my words into practice; now the
challenge of actually doing what inspired me. That is different.

The first print of Spirit in Finance was almost sold out. The demand for translation of the book in English just kept coming. I started to pray.

‘Heavenly Father, Divine Mother, Holy Trinity, all the archangels and angels, servants of God, servants of the light, heavenly friends, my entire
being belongs to you, move in with me, use me, have me, for the glory of God, for the Kingdom of God on Earth.’ Before you is what came in
response to that prayer: Pure Life – A plea for love as legal tender. It is the sequel to Spirit in Finance.